Plenty Of Incentive For Black Voters Next Time

DOUGLAS C. LYONS

June 23, 2001|DOUGLAS C. LYONS EDITORIAL WRITER

Black voters in Florida have America just where they want it. The 2002 election offers an opportunity to play on a worldwide stage of political theater. Are black voters who believe they were disenfranchised and disrespected last November up to the challenge?

Judging by the fan mail, I received for my previous column about the "stolen" presidential election, there are many folk across the U.S. who simply don't think so. Here are some of the notable excerpts:

"I really feel sorry for you and the Commission on Civil Rights," an upset reader from Plano, Texas, wrote. "First, all of about three people care or even know what a sham the report is, good or bad. Fact is: many black folk that came to vote can't read -- or at best, can't comprehend -- a simple ballot. I have only a high school education and have been voting in three different states, New York, Florida and Texas, since 1958, never missing an election and never making a mistake on my ballot. Voting to me is a sacred right and I take it quite seriously."

A respondent from Ooltewah, Tenn., echoed the sentiment. "Your article was interesting reading because it placed so much blame for what you call a stolen election on others, rather than those who made the mistakes. I believe it should be named `The election that was given away.' If over half of the mistakes were made by nonwhites, then there is a possibility that unfamiliarity and lack of education might be the problem. If that is true, then the solution is [to] educate the voters."

A terse e-mail from another reader said: "They found with the huge amount of people voting, many first-timers and those who couldn't read came out to vote. Could the fact that many didn't ask for help and just marked the ballot willy-nilly void their vote?"

And from a California woman: "I will be honest with you. People don't care what blacks do. They are too busy trying to make their own lives work than to care about a group of people who [are] always yelling FIRE, when there isn't one. Now go get a real job. Black RACIST!"

Let me try to make a point while I still have my do-nothin' need-a-life gig as an opinion writer. There were many first-time voters in Florida's 2000 presidential election, but I'm not ready to write them off en masse as an ignorant group of people who now want to waste time whining about the last election.

I do believe, however, that they will get even by returning to the polls en masse for the next election. And they, like every prospective voter, will have to do their homework before casting their ballots.

Next year, many counties, including Broward and Palm Beach, will have new voting machines as the punch card ballot becomes a piece of Florida's history. There also will be new districts, thanks to the traditional decadal redrawing of congressional, state legislative and local political boundaries.

The runoff election will be nonexistent. This particular change will be huge for voters in the Democratic Party primary. The turnout in the September primary will be critical, since the candidate who gets the most votes in that election becomes the party's nominee in the November general election.

Many black residents in Florida don't need much of an incentive. Jeb Bush's name will be on the ballot, and that will be enough to spur turnout from those who oppose the governor's decisions to ban affirmative action programs, cut taxes to benefit the very well-to-do or trim jobs in state government.

The polls give Bush a clear lead over his prospective Democratic challengers. This time, however, Bush has a record, something to run on and to defend simultaneously. Add another tough budget year, threats of cuts in state services, a timely gaffe by the governor -- all three are possible -- and what began as a cakewalk could turn into a real contest.

Black voters have another incentive in state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami. The black Democrat is the first of his party to announce his candidacy for governor. Party scuttlebutt is that his name is on almost everybody's "short list" for lieutenant governor. He has the experience, the grasp of issues and the telegenic talent to be an attractive candidate for either spot on the ticket.

The 2002 election offers black voters a chance to erase any lingering misconceptions that they aren't educated enough to cast a ballot. U.S. history is filled with examples of black achievement under far more trying circumstances than learning how to use a touch-screen monitor or figuring out the location of a new voting precinct.

Though many black voters still believe the election was "stolen," most of them will return to the polls next year, and will be much better informed on the issues and, more importantly, the voting process.

The stage is set for a major performance by Florida's black voters. Dress rehearsal begins when the Florida Legislature reconvenes in January.